Iran firm says there may be survivors from tanker crash

In this image from video run by China's CCTV shows the Panama-registered tanker "Sanchi" is seen ablaze after a collision with a Hong Kong-registered freighter off China's eastern coast, Monday, Jan. 8, 2017. The U.S. Navy has joined the search for 32 crew members missing from the oil tanker that caught fire after colliding with a bulk freighter off China's east coast. (CCTV via AP Video)

TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian company whose oil tanker burst into flames after a collision in the East China Sea says there is still hope of finding survivors.

Mohsen Bahrami, a spokesman for National Iranian Tanker Co., said Tuesday that rescuers would "likely" find survivors as "the engine room is not directly affected by the fire and is about 14 meters (yards) under water." He added: "There is still hope."

The body of one of the 32 crewmen has been recovered, while the other 31 are missing.

The tanker was carrying 136,000 metric tons (nearly 1 million barrels) of condensate when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal late Saturday. The 21 members of the Crystal's all-Chinese crew were rescued.